Jane Eyre, the new winemaker at Domaine Comte Armand

Within the last couple of years, Jane has become one of my favourite winemakers in Burgundy. She has a vinification style that stands well with the challenges of global warming.

The style is elegant, slightly on the sensual and perfumed side, highlighting all that a Burgundy should be, but not always is. Jane makes lovely and enjoyable Burgundies … hedonistic joys with a lovely emotional side … just a style that suits Pommard well in a world governed by global warming.

I was therefore very happy when I found that Jane Eyre will be taking over as winemaker at Domaine du Comte Armand in Pommard – an Estate owned by the Comte Armand family since 1828.

There are some very important historic domaines in Burgundy, and Comte Armand is most certainly one of the most well-known and well-established estates in the Côte de Beaune and Pommard – dating back to the heritage of Nicolas Marey, who founded the estate by acquiring Clos des Epeneaux after or in connection with the French Revolution.

Big Congratulations to Jane! She most certainly deserves this exciting challenge and also to Comte Armand for choosing a winemaker with both obvious talent and grit. I, for one, will be looking forward to the Comte Armand estate with wines made by Jane Eyre.

Jane Eyre’s background

Jane comes from Australia, but has Norwegian ancestry. She has lived in Burgundy for almost 25 years, so while not quite Burgundian, she’s certainly more so than the Winehog.

She’s worked with different well-known producers – Ernie Loosen in the Moselle and Christopher Newman at Domaine Newman – and then she met Dominique Lafon when she started her own endeavour at the Château de Bligny, south of Beaune, where Lafon runs his négociant business. She began her négociant business in 2011 after making wine for Domaine Newman. On the side, she produces wines in Australia to complete the picture of a woman understanding global warming.

Domaine Comte Armand

At Comte Armand, Jane Eyre is taking over from Paul Zinetti, who began as the winemaker at Comte Armand in 2014. Before this, Benjamin Leroux was making the wines from 1999, when he took over from my good neighbour Pascal Marchand, who had the responsibility from 1985 to 1999.